Happy, Happy Birthday, Jonny!

Twenty five years ago I gave a birthday card to my friend, Jon.

"Just as a friend," I thought.

Though secretly, I dreamed of more.

We'd been friends for a couple years,
and I looked up to him and admired him greatly.
He made me laugh like nobody.
He was a strong leader.
And he was serious about his walk with Jesus.

Two weeks later, we were dating.
Apparently, much to my delight, he'd felt the same way about me.

So I've had the pleasure of celebrating this man of mine for 25 years now.
And as I look back at him and us and our family,
I've seen this remarkable boy grow into a man.
I've watched the making of a strong, steady, consistent leader:
a man rich in character and integrity;
a man wise beyond his years;
a man who gives selflessly and without limit;
I see this man who puts in long hours seen by no one but God;
a man whose whole life is about making much of his Savior
and inspiring others to do the same.

He boldly sets the pace for our sons,
showing them what it means to be a godly man.
He shows what it means to love a woman and
how to mirror Christ in revealing his heart.
He teaches them how to extravagantly love people;
to humbly apologize when wrong and graciously forgive when wronged.
He follows hard on the heels of Jesus,
imitating Him so that they can imitate him (1 Corinthians 11:1).

This unflappable man gives me an endless supply of perspective and balance.
He sacrificially gives his life for me,
echoing the way Christ gave His life for His Bride.
Where I'd be prone to live my life by emotion,
he gently speaks Truth into my life and directs my eyes back to Jesus.
He ardently loves and rabidly protects me.
Asked if he loves me?
I'd shout it from the rooftop,
wholeheartedly, unashamedly, without question,
"Yes!"
He shows me everyday,
and I never doubt his undying covenant to me.

So it's easy to see why celebrating the day of his birth is such a much-anticipated holiday around here.
For in Jon---my husband and our boys' dad---God has given us our best earthly gift.
It's with great joy that we honor and celebrate him today---
and cry out joyful exclamations of thanks to God for His amazing, one-of-a-kind creation.
Our lives are forever changed.

Happy Birthday with tons of love, Jonny Mac!